Research in Namibia

Michael Jordan, MD and Steven Hong, MD have worked together to help establish strong ties between Tufts University School of Medicine, the University of Namibia Medical School and Namibia’s Ministry of Health and Social Services.

Dr. Jordan’s research focuses on assessment of antiretroviral therapy program and clinic performance in quality of care, quality improvement outcomes and in outcomes related to the population-level minimization of HIV drug resistance. Additionally, Dr. Jordan directs the Tufts Medical Center HIV/Virology Research Laboratory and performs research assessing low frequency HIV drug resistance mutations. Dr. Jordan is a consultant for the World Health Organization’s (WHO) HIV drug resistance team and has developed many aspects of the WHO’s global HIV drug resistance surveillance strategy currently implemented in over 50 countries. Current research in Namibia examines aspects of HIV drug resistance, HIV knowledge, adherence to antiretroviral therapy and different methods of programmatic assessment with the goal of optimizing patient care in resource limited settings.

Dr. Steven Y. Hong has led the establishment of the strong research collaboration in Namibia. His research in this country focuses on optimization of care of HIV-infected patients, including assessment of antiretroviral therapy (ART) delivery, retention in care of patients on ART, pre-ART retention in care, assessment and prevention of HIV drug resistance and assessment of food insecurity in HIV-infected patients. He also works as a consultant for the WHO, providing strategy for surveillance and prevention of HIV drug resistance in resource-limited settings, which has led to publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at international meetings. He has mentored multiple medical students, sending them to Namibia and is currently mentoring a post-doctoral fellow in Namibia conducting a project on monitoring of HIV drug resistance.